The effect of season on serum testosterone concentrations in dogs

Photoperiod and environmental temperature are two important factors that may influence the reproductive cycle of various species. The objective of this study was to investigate seasonal influences on serum testosterone concentrations in dogs in a tropical zone, where the variation in day length between winter and summer solstice was approximately 2.5 h. Blood samples were collected every 15 days from seven adult dogs over a 14-month interval and serum testosterone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. The year was divided into four seasons and mean testosterone concentrations for each season were related to the mean environmental temperature and rainfall during that season. Mean testosterone concentrations were 1.81 ng/mL (winter 2002), 1.93 ng/mL (spring 2002),1.31 ng/mL (summer 2003), 2.02 ng/mL (autumn 2003) and 1.93 ng/mL (winter 2003). The temperature ranged from 10.2 to 32.8 degrees C and the rainfall from 33 to 476 mm. Serum testosterone concentrations were lower in summer 2003 than in both spring 2002 (P = 0.05) and autumn 2003 (P = 0.0 16). In a tropical zone, a combination of high temperature and substantial rainfall may have reduced serum testosterone concentrations in dogs. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of Imposed Optic Flow Characteristics and Intention on Postural Responses

This study examined the influence of both optic flow characteristics and intention on postural control responses. Two groups of 10 adults each were exposed to the room's movement either at 0.6 cm/s (low velocity group) or 1.0 cm/s (high velocity group). All the participants stood in the upright stance inside of a moving room and were informed about the room movement only after the fourth trial as they were asked to resist to its influence. Results revealed that participants from both groups were influenced by the imposed visual stimulus in the first trials, but the coupling strength was weaker for the high velocity group. The request to resist the visual influences decreased visual influences oil body sway, but only for the low velocity group. These results indicate that intention might play a role in stimulus influences on body sway but it is stimulus dependent.

Microhabitat use by Peucetia flava (Oxyopidae) on the glandular plant Rhyncanthera dichotoma (Melastomataceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Treatment of pediatric myelodysplastic syndromes and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia: the Brazilian experience in the past decade

Background: Therapy strategies for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) vary considerably. Objective: To review the treatment of Brazilian children who were diagnosed with MDS or JMML in the past decade and reported to the Brazilian Cooperative Group on Pediatric Myelodysplastic syndromes (BCG-MDS-PED). Results: of 173 children reported to the BCG-MDS-PED from January 1997 to January 2003 with a suspected diagnosis of MDS or JMML, 91 had the diagnosis confirmed after central review of the bone marrow aspirate and biopsy. Information on previous treatments was available for 78 MDS/JMML patients. Treatment varied from different schedules of low-dose (14%) and standard-dose chemotherapy (50%), granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF 7%), interferon (5%), steroids (2%) and erythropoietin (2%) to allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) (14%). No survival advantage could be demonstrated based on Hasle's classification or based on treatment. Conclusion: This report reflects the current practice in treating Brazilian children with MDS/JMML without specific Cooperative Group guidelines. Treatment modalities were very heterogeneous. The strategies for implementing a national protocol should consider international guidelines and focus on local experience and available resources. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Effect of Water Immersion and UV Radiation Aging on the Shear Behavior of Woven Continuous Fiber/PEI Laminates

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of pre-heat treatment and different light-curing units on Vickers hardness of a microhybrid composite resin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hardness of a dental composite resin submitted to temperature changes before photo-activation with two light-curing unite (LCUs). Five samples (4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness) for each group were made with pre-cure temperatures of 37, 54, and 60°C. The samples were photo-activated with a conventional quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH) and blue LED LCUs during 40 s. The hardness Vickers test (VHN) was performed on the top and bottom surfaces of the samples. According to the interaction between light-curing unit and different pre-heating temperatures of composite resin, only the light-curing unit provided influences on the mean values of initial Vickers hardness. The light-curing unit based on blue LED showed hardness mean values more homogeneous between the top and bottom surfaces. The hardness mean values were not statistically significant difference for the pre-cure temperature used. According to these results, the pre-heating of the composite resin provide no influence on Vickers hardness mean values, however the blue LED showed a cure more homogeneous than QTH LCU. © 2009 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.

Percepção da imagem corporal de adultos após acidente vascular encefálico: uma abordagem psicofísica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Análise da intensidade e frequencia dos ruídos articulares da articulação temporomandibular no movimento de lateralidade

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O fazer docente no processo de mudança das teorias pedagógicas

Este artigo constitui uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as diferentes teorias pedagógicas e sua relação com o fazer docente. Apresenta o contraponto entre a escola tradicional, fundamentada na força dos modelos e no estudo dos clássicos da história humana, e a escola nova, que defende a ideia de centralidade na atividade do aluno e em métodos e programas baseados na experiência da criança. Adota, para tanto, o seguinte referencial teórico: Saviani (2008a/2008b), Snyders (1974), Gramsci (1991), Luzuriaga (1961), Bloch (1951), Hernandez (1998), Ball (1994) e Gauthier (1998), entre outros. Propõe uma reflexão sobre a escola como principal recurso estratégico de educação das comunidades humanas e sobre os saberes necessários à profissionalização do ensino. Debate, ainda, as pedagogias adotadas pela Secretaria de Estado da Educação de São Paulo, nas últimas décadas, incluindo o novo currículo oficial, e a influência do Estado e do mercado na prática docente.

Influence of spatial constraints in non-crystalline regions on the polymer dynamics in semi-crystalline polyethylene: a solid state NMR study

A broad variety of solid state NMR techniques were used to investigate the chain dynamics in several polyethylene (PE) samples, including ultrahigh molecular weight PEs (UHMW-PEs) and low molecular weight PEs (LMW-PEs). Via changing the processing history, i.e. melt/solution crystallization and drawing processes, these samples gain different morphologies, leading to different molecular dynamics. Due to the long chain nature, the molecular dynamics of polyethylene can be distinguished in local fluctuation and long range motion. With the help of NMR these different kinds of molecular dynamics can be monitored separately. In this work the local chain dynamics in non-crystalline regions of polyethylene samples was investigated via measuring 1H-13C heteronuclear dipolar coupling and 13C chemical shift anisotropy (CSA). By analyzing the motionally averaged 1H-13C heteronuclear dipolar coupling and 13C CSA, the information about the local anisotropy and geometry of motion was obtained. Taking advantage of the big difference of the 13C T1 relaxation time in crystalline and non-crystalline regions of PEs, the 1D 13C MAS exchange experiment was used to investigate the cooperative chain motion between these regions. The different chain organizations in non-crystalline regions were used to explain the relationship between the local fluctuation and the long range motion of the samples. In a simple manner the cooperative chain motion between crystalline and non-crystalline regions of PE results in the experimentally observed diffusive behavior of PE chain. The morphological influences on the diffusion motion have been discussed. The morphological factors include lamellar thickness, chain organization in non-crystalline regions and chain entanglements. Thermodynamics of the diffusion motion in melt and solution crystallized UHMW-PEs is discussed, revealing entropy-controlled features of the chain diffusion in PE. This thermodynamic consideration explains the counterintuitive relationship between the local fluctuation and the long range motion of the samples. Using the chain diffusion coefficient, the rates of jump motion in crystals of the melt crystallized PE have been calculated. A concept of "effective" jump motion has been proposed to explain the difference between the values derived from the chain diffusion coefficients and those in literatures. The observations of this thesis give a clear demonstration of the strong relationship between the sample morphology and chain dynamics. The sample morphologies governed by the processing history lead to different spatial constraints for the molecular chains, leading to different features of the local and long range chain dynamics. The knowledge of the morphological influence on the microscopic chain motion has many implications in our understanding of the alpha-relaxation process in PE and the related phenomena such as crystal thickening, drawability of PE, the easy creep of PE fiber, etc.

Electrostatically self-assembled nanoparticles based on biomolecules

In this work, two different systems were investigated to develop fundamental understanding of the self-assembly behavior of polyelectrolytes and small organic counterions with a certain geometry. Complexes formed were characterized by light scattering in solution, as well as UV-Vis spectroscopy, analytical ultracentrifugation, gel electrophoresis, zeta potential and IR spectroscopy. The morphologies of the aggregates were observed by AFM in dried state on surface. The charge ratio, the valence and the structure of the counterion were shown to represent key parameters in the complexation. The influence of polyelectrolyte type and molecular weights was also determined for the structure formed.rnrnOne system was mainly focused on the association of double-strand DNA with non-intercalating divalent and tetravalent organic counterions. The other model system involved linear NaPSS and oligolysines. In addition, various influences on the morphology of the charged self-assembly complexes in AFM studies were discussed. It was shown that electrostatic self-assembly of DNA and non-intercalating counterions as well as of a linear synthetic polyelectrolyte with oligolysine counterions that can build mutual hydrogen bonds can yield supramolecular aggregates of a defined size. Various morphologies (flower-like, rod-like, toroidal and spherical) of the assemblies were obtained for different combinations of polyelectrolyte and counterions. Results presented in this work are of importance for the fundamental understanding of the association behavior of various polyelectrolytes and organic counterions. The selection of biopolymers for the study may give an opportunity to transfer the basic research results into biological applications, such as gene therapy or drug delivery.rn

The unspoken disease: symptom experience in women with vulval neoplasia and surgical treatment: a qualitative study

Women with vulval neoplasia often experience severe post-surgical complications. This study focuses on symptom experience of women during the first 6 months following surgical treatment for vulval neoplasia considering their socio-cultural context. In this qualitative study using a critical hermeneutic approach, narrative interviews were conducted. A purposeful sample of 20 patients was recruited from one Swiss and two German university hospitals. Content analysis was employed to analyse the transcribed interviews considering women's experiences and social perceptions. Narratives showed eight interrelated themes: delayed diagnosis, disclosed disease, disturbed self-image, changed vulva care, experienced wound-related symptoms, evoked emotions, affected interpersonal interactions and feared illness progression. The women experienced a general lack of information pertaining to above themes and all described strategies used to handle their situation, which affected their distress. The communication, assessment and treatment of symptoms were hampered by the society's and the health system's tendency to overlook these symptoms and leave them in the realm of the unspeakable. Health professionals need new strategies to support these women to recognise, assess and evaluate the seriousness of symptoms, and to communicate their symptom experience so that timely medical treatment is sought. This support may minimise potentially preventable complications and symptom-related distress.

Dosing lepirudin in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and normal or impaired renal function: a single-center experience with 68 patients

The recommended dose (bolus 0.4 mg/kg followed by 0.15 mg/kg per hour) of lepirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor licensed for treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), is too high. Starting in 2001, we omitted the bolus and reduced maintenance dose by at least one-third. Analyzing 53 HIT patients treated between January 2001 and February 2007, we observed that therapeutic anticoagulation intensity already 4 hours after lepirudin start had been reached with the following initial lepirudin doses (median): 0.078 mg/kg per hour [creatinine clearance (CrCl) more than 60 mL/min], 0.040 mg/kg per hour (CrCl 30-60 mL/min), and 0.013 mg/kg per hour (CrCl < 30 mL/min). The efficacy of this treatment was documented by increasing platelets and decreasing D-dimers. Based on this experience, we derived a lepirudin dosing regimen, which was prospectively evaluated treating 15 HIT patients between March 2007 and February 2008. We show that omitting the initial lepirudin bolus and administering 0.08 mg/kg per hour in patients with CrCl more than 60 mL/min, 0.04 mg/kg per hour in patients with CrCl 30-60 mL/min, and 0.01 to 0.02 mg/kg per hour in those with CrCl less than 30 mL/min is efficacious and safe, as documented by increasing platelet counts, decreasing D-dimer levels, and rare thrombotic (1 of 46) and major bleeding (4 of 46) complications.

Effects of cerebral perfusion pressure and increased fraction of inspired oxygen on brain tissue oxygen, lactate and glucose in patients with severe head injury

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to measure the effects of increased inspired oxygen on patients suffering severe head injury and consequent influences on the correlations between CPP and brain tissue oxygen (PtiO2) and the effects on brain microdialysate glucose and lactate. METHODS: In a prospective, observational study 20 patients suffering severe head injury (GCS< or =8) were studied between January 2000 and December 2001. Each patient received an intraparenchymal ICP device and an oxygen sensor and, in 17 patients brain microdialysis was performed at the cortical-subcortical junction. A 6 h 100% oxygen challenge (F IO2 1.0) ( Period A) was performed as early as possible in the first 24 hours after injury and compared with a similar 6 hour period following the challenge ( Period B). Statistics were performed using the linear correlation analysis, one sample t-test, as well as the Lorentzian peak correlation analysis. RESULTS: F IO2 was positively correlated with PtiO2 (p < 0.0001) over the whole study period. PtiO2 was significantly higher (p < 0.001) during Period A compared to Period B. CPP was positively correlated with PtiO2 (p < 0.001) during the whole study. PtiO2 peaked at a CPP value of 78 mmHg performing a Lorentzian peak correlation analysis of all patients over the whole study. During Period A the brain microdialysate lactate was significantly lower (p = 0.015) compared with Period B. However the brain microdialysate glucose remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: PtiO2 is significantly positively correlated with F IO2, meaning that PtiO2 can be improved by the simple manipulation of increasing F IO2 and ABGAO2. PtiO2 is positively correlated with CPP, peaking at a CPP value of 78 mmHg. Brain microdialysate lactate can be lowered by increasing PtiO2 values, as observed during the oxygen challenge, whereas microdialysate glucose is unchanged during this procedure. Extension of the oxygen challenge time and measurement of the intermediate energy metabolite pyruvate may clarify the metabolic effects of the intervention. Prospective comparative studies, including analysis of outcome on a larger multicenter basis, are necessary to assess the long term clinical benefits of this procedure.

Using water balance models to approximate the effects of climate change on spring catchment discharge : Mt. Hanang, Tanzania

This project addresses the potential impacts of changing climate on dry-season water storage and discharge from a small, mountain catchment in Tanzania. Villagers and water managers around the catchment have experienced worsening water scarcity and attribute it to increasing population and demand, but very little has been done to understand the physical characteristics and hydrological behavior of the spring catchment. The physical nature of the aquifer was characterized and water balance models were calibrated to discharge observations so as to be able to explore relative changes in aquifer storage resulting from climate changes. To characterize the shallow aquifer supplying water to the Jandu spring, water quality and geochemistry data were analyzed, discharge recession analysis was performed, and two water balance models were developed and tested. Jandu geochemistry suggests a shallow, meteorically-recharged aquifer system with short circulation times. Baseflow recession analysis showed that the catchment behavior could be represented by a linear storage model with an average recession constant of 0.151/month from 2004-2010. Two modified Thornthwaite-Mather Water Balance (TMWB) models were calibrated using historic rainfall and discharge data and shown to reproduce dry-season flows with Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies between 0.86 and 0.91. The modified TMWB models were then used to examine the impacts of nineteen, perturbed climate scenarios to test the potential impacts of regional climate change on catchment storage during the dry season. Forcing the models with realistic scenarios for average monthly temperature, annual precipitation, and seasonal rainfall distribution demonstrated that even small climate changes might adversely impact aquifer storage conditions at the onset of the dry season. The scale of the change was dependent on the direction (increasing vs. decreasing) and magnitude of climate change (temperature and precipitation). This study demonstrates that small, mountain aquifer characterization is possible using simple water quality parameters, recession analysis can be integrated into modeling aquifer storage parameters, and water balance models can accurately reproduce dry-season discharges and might be useful tools to assess climate change impacts. However, uncertainty in current climate projections and lack of data for testing the predictive capabilities of the model beyond the present data set, make the forecasts of changes in discharge also uncertain. The hydrologic tools used herein offer promise for future research in understanding small, shallow, mountainous aquifers and could potentially be developed and used by water resource professionals to assess climatic influences on local hydrologic systems.